Dion's random ramblings

My blog has moved to www.dionforster.com

2010-02-08T12:16:00.002+02:00

To get to my NEW blog please visit:

http://www.dionforster.com

Please could you update your links accordingly? Particularly if you have a link to this page from your site. I would appreciate that very much!

The RSS feed for the new blog is: http://www.dionforster.com/blog/rss.xml

I have finally decided to move away from blogger.com after they announced that they will stop supporting FTP uploads. For some time I have been struggling to update simple things, like tags, links to files, and even to post regular posts with formatting. So, I took the plunge and opened a Squarespace account and moved my blog to my own domain http://www.dionforster.com

I have already imported all of my posts from here to that site - it was quick and seamless! It copied everything, including comments and tags, onto squarespace. The interface for blogging is very user friendly (you simply drag widgets where you want them and they work!) Plus, there is an iPhone client that lets me post directly from my iPhone, track user statistics and edit previous posts on the fly.

I hope you'll continue to visit my blog in its new home!

Please do take a look and send me some feedback, suggestions, and any input to make the site better, more user-friendly, and a blessing to others.

Thanks so much!

Dion

A blessing for today... May God bless you with discomfort...

2010-02-07T17:17:00.000+02:00

I came across this wonderful Franciscan blessing earlier today. It reminded me that I so quickly become comfortable in my life. I very quickly forget that I am saved by Christ to serve others, and in order to do that I need to be able to experience the pain and struggle of those amongst whom God is sending me.

There is a great Church in Pretoria that has the slogan (in Afrikaans) 'Leef iemand raak' The best translation I can give is something along the lines of 'live your life into the lives of others', or 'in your living, make sure you encounter others'.

I too easily get busy, distracted, selfish and when this happens I forget what it means to truly live - to live one's life for others. Here's the blessing - I would love to hear how you remain mindful of the needs, cares, and struggles of others. Please do share some insights that help you to remain connected and intentional about living your life as a gift from God, intended to be given generously for others.

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator,
Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour,
and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide,
be with you and remain with you, this day and forevermore.

AMEN

Be intentional about finding joy in life!

2010-01-31T22:32:00.001+02:00

I recently read a single line that has left an impression upon me - 'At work, on purpose'! I think that sometimes we forget that where we are, what we can do, and who is around us are all very important in God's plan for our lives and the lives of those among whom we live and work.

I have met far too many people that live for a different reality - heck I have even fallen prey to escapism myself.

I recently read Gretchen Rubbin's fantastic book The happiness project. In it she discusses the discipline of cultivating thankfulness and joy for what you already have. She calls the discipline 'mindfulness' - I have often spoken of 'living with intention'.

It is important to build such simple little disciplines into our lives so that we can make the most of what we have, instead of wishing our lives away!

So, tomorrow I shall return to work, and I pray that I will be there 'on purpose', i.e., fulfilling the purpose for which God has placed me there. I will have chances to transform both people and systems with Christ's love. I can model the including love of Christ, make a stand for justice, and gently do my best to make the lives of those around me better.

But, this requires intention! Here's a sneak preview of my next radio broadcast from my program 'The Ministry and Me' from http://www.radiopulpit.co.za - as always I would love to hear your ideas and feedback! You can download the MP3 file here (6MB)

Stretching my legs in preparation for the Argus Cycle tour

2010-01-31T20:18:00.001+02:00

This morning I woke up and hit the road LLLOOOONGGG before the sun rose! At a few minutes to 5am (at around 4.50am) I got onto my road bike for a long ride! It ended up at 83km's with a lot of climbing (Hellshoogte, Klapmuts and then back up to Somerset West). It was awesome. Although I can't walk all that well this evening! Ha ha!

Seriously though, as I approach 40 I am finding myself feeling fitter than I have been in more than 20 years. My weight is at a level that I last weighed when I was in my 20's. Also, the cycling helps to keep my stress under check. As I ride I find that the dendrites fire at double speed - not only do I think more clearly, but I often find that the added energy allows me to get more done during the day. I am also particularly grateful that it has been exceptional therapy to bring back the strength in my leg after a serious motorcycle accident in early 2008. So, all in all it is a good thing.

Cycling can be time consuming. So, as a result I make the sacrifice of leaving long before my family are up and about so that I can get back home without 'stealing' family time.

This morning's ride took around 3 hours (not a great time for the distance, but great for me). At this pace I should be able to do the Argus in about 3 1/2 hours (if the weather is good!) I managed to get out and be back by 8.30 so that I was ready to help Megie get the kids ready for Church.

Anyway, I'm not sure why anyone would be interested, but just in case you are, here's a picture of the ride route (from Somerset West to Klapmuts, then up Hellshoogte and back to Somerset West). You can also view it in Google Earth here. This is a standard KML file. If it doesn't open google earth automatically when you download it simply right click on the file, save it and then open it from your hard drive.

What do you do for fun? I know that we're not all 'wired' for activity! Perhaps it is reading, or maybe cooking? I'd love to hear what helps you relax and enjoy life!

Are you facing a financial crisis? A resource to help you - Dr Wessel Bentley

2010-01-30T16:28:00.000+02:00

Last year (2009) was my second year labouring as a minister in the corporate environment. It has been an extremely interesting and challenging experience! In many ways I have rediscovered my passion for Jesus and his ways (particularly for encountering people and systems with God's transforming love so that God's justice and mercy may transform individuals and society).

I remember many years ago there was a huge thrust to mobilize prayer and missionaries to go to the 10/40 window to engage in mission and evangelism efforts among some of the 'unreached people groups' of the world (i.e., those regions where the Gospel had not yet been shared in a meaningful manner).

Since then I have come to discover that there is a massive 'unreached people group' right under my nose! These are the people in the 9 to 5 window! It has been an incredible awakening to discover just how little intentional ministry there is to support and care for persons during their workday!

I am writing the last two chapters for a book on this subject for Struik Christian Media this week. So, keep an eye on this space for more!

Well, 2009 was a year where this kind of ministry was more necessary than most other years! 2009 was an incredibly tough year for businesses!

My two primary orientations as a minister in the marketplace are 1) to help persons to understand God's loving purpose for their abilities, their time, and their location, and 2) to ensure that they find creative and practical ways of utilizing these gifts in order to see God's Kingdom established (a Kingdom in which God's loving will is experienced - not just preached!) I frequently ask my Christian friends - 'when Jesus said that he came to bring "Good News to the Poor", what did he mean? What IS truly good news to the poor?' I can tell you, it is not a sermon! It is work, dignity, security, justice, health care, food, shelter etc. People need to taste the goodness of God before they will believe propositional statements about His nature, love, and intention.

Last year was a challenging year to get alongside business people. The recession in the USA spread throughout the world, and it impacted many people in a very negative way. At times such as these we need encouragement, wisdom, guidance, hope and care.

One of the resources that I found most helpful in my ministry in the marketplace is Wessel Bentley's book 28 Days of Prayer during financial crisis. Wessel is an incredible pastor and theologian in a large Church in Pretoria. His devotional book is filled with practical insights that come from personal experience (read his book to find out more about that).

What I liked a lot is that Wessel's theology is so sound - he avoids the temptation to trivialize the struggle that a lack of money can bring by offering 'inspirational quips' or 'quick fixes'. Moreover, he does not present a 'prosperity' teaching approach to getting through financial crisis (I am yet to see sustainable and lasting results from prosperity teachings - more often than not the only person who benefits is the preacher! Truly sad! This is not the way of Jesus - it is heresy). Rather, Wessel's book grapples with the issues of financial need, and offers real, practical, sustainable perspectives that can help a person in financial crisis and carry them through it.

So, Wessel's book has my endorsement! You can find out more about the book here.

In this regard I want to make you aware of an important event. If you live in the Gauteng Area please consider visiting the Northfield Methodist Church on the 7th of February. Wessel will be sharing at the services on this topic. I am certain that it will be an incredibly meaningful time! For more information please visit the Northfield website here.

Love and marriage!

2010-01-29T21:34:00.000+02:00

1994 was a very important year for South Africans - it was the year in which we voted to end apartheid and establish a free and fair multiparty democracy.

I remember 1994 for another very special reason though! On the 29th of January 1994 Megan and I were married in the Trinity Methodist Church in Sunward Park. What a wonderful day that was! I was so in love with Megan! Man, oh man! She is so beautiful, and she has such a bubbly personality and so much energy and love.

I'm pleased to say that none of those qualities have disappeared in the last 16 years. Rather, they have matched by many other wonderful virtues. Megan and I were just 21 years of age (well, I was 22 by two weeks) when we got married! In truth we have grown up together. We've been through so many joys together (the birth of our children, our first home, our first camping trip, holidays, graduations... the list goes on and on!) And, we've shared in a fair share of struggle and sorrow (we've been very poor, and quite rich - each one has its own challenges! As a minister, in the early days, there were many times we went without. We survived our little Liam's traumatic entry into life, and the joy of journeying with him ever since. Megan has helped me to survive motorcycle accidents, changes in career - from minister, to academic, to marketplace minister. She has celebrated my achievements, and I have celebrated hers. She has survived cancer and a few other health concerns). All of this has bonded our lives together.

I can truly say that I have been blessed! Megan remains patient, attentive and caring. She is extremely capable in her work. A graduate in Human Resource management, a formidable business woman, a mother and a wife. She loves Christ - and I am thankful that she loves me.

Please join us in thanking God for the 16 years of marriage we have shared, and for the many blessed years that lie ahead.

Your work as an act of worship

2010-01-25T08:44:00.001+02:00

If you read my blog, and if you follow my twitter feed - see http://www.twitter.com/digitaldion - you will know that I am a proponent of the notion that work can be an act of worship. According to Col 3:23 we can choose to do our work for Christ (both honouring His will for our labour, energy, creativity and time; but also achieving his desired will to encounter people in love and transform systems to reflect the pattern of God's loving Kingdom).

The following quote inspired me today:

Inspiration is not the exclusive privilege of poets or artists generally. There is, has been, and will always be a certain group of people whom inspiration visits. It's made up of all those who've consciously chosen their calling and do their job with love and imagination. It may include doctors, teachers, gardeners -- and I could list a hundred more professions ... A swarm of new questions emerges from every problem they solve. Whatever inspiration is, it's born from a continuous "I don't know." - Wislawa Szymborska,from her lecture upon winning the Nobel Prize for literature in 1996

I would like to encourage you to read the quote above, and the scripture reading below a few times.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all. - Proverbs 22:1-2

What is God's intention for your worklife? If Jesus were 'doing your job' how would he deal with the people and systems you encounter each day? What commitment can you make in order to use your work as an act of declaring Christ's worth?

May you be richly blessed this week!

In support of a friend - Bishop Paul Verryn

2010-01-24T15:21:00.000+02:00

I returned home last night from 3 days of 'media isolation' - I was on a farm about 70km from Beufort West with our team doing some strategic planning for 2010.

When I got home I noticed scores of emails and messages on facebook and twitter about Paul Verryn. I fired up my broswer and found that Paul had been suspended by our denomination, the (MCSA) Methodist Church of Southern Africa. It is a matter of grave concern for me - I worry deeply for Paul and also for the MCSA.

You can read about the suspension in this Sowetan article (the image of Paul at the top of this post comes from the same link).

I have been party to numerous disciplinary hearings in my years as a Methodist Minister - I served on disciplinary committees and have had two occasions to appear before them. I am not certain of the reasons for the disciplinary action. I was not able to reach Paul on his cell phone. Regardless, even if I knew the reasons I would not post them publicly at this stage.

However, from what I have heard from mutual friends and read in the media I have come to understand that Paul is being charged either for approaching the High Court of Johannesburg to have a curator appointed over the refugee children who have sought sanctuary in his Church. Our Church's polity (the law that regulates the Church) states that only the Presiding Bishop or the General Secretary may initiate any legal action on behalf of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. As such regardless of whether the action is valid, necessary, or otherwise, any person who acts on behalf of the Church as a whole without sanction is subject to disciplinary action. If this is the reason for the disciplinary action by the MCSA then I would ask why the Church had not take the action in the first place?

The second 'strand' of rumors also relate to the underage refugees in the Central Methodist church. What is clear is that the Church has far too many people living there. This is a problem of inadequate intervention by the national and provincial government! The state has the primary responsibility to deal with such matters, and since they have not adequately acknowledged the problem in Zimbabwe, they are not willing to deal decisively with the Zimbabwean refugee crisis! Paul and the central Methodist Church did what any Christian should do - they offered shelter and care to persons who were living on the streets of Johannesburg. The overcrowding that has since resulted would never have happened if the local government had responded to Paul's calls for just treatment of the refugees, adequate temporary housing, schooling and care. The Xenophobic attacks of 2008 accentuated the crisis and these seems to have been very little respite in the struggle and controversy at the Central Methodist Church. Some have suggested that Paul is facing charges (from whom I don't know) that he has not cared properly for the persons living in the Church (and in particular the many unaccompanied minors who have sought refuge there).

The reason for his High Court appeal was precisely to have a curator appointed for the children.

Regardless of the reasons for the disciplinary case (it may be something completely different), I would ask you to please pray for Paul and for the MCSA. This is not necessarily a combative relationship. For example, if any person brings charges against any other the Church is duty bound to suspend the minister in question until the matter is resolved. The disciplinary committee may find that the person is not guilty of any contravention of Church polity. However, they have a responsibility to investigate the charges in defense of justice.

So, please can I encourage you not to get caught up in rumors and the divise game of blame? Please do support Paul with your prayers. I know him to have done his very best for those who are in need!

Let's wait to see what the facts are and then we can offer informed and helpful comment and directed prayer.

I am afraid that I am running at an incredible pace for the next few weeks with lots of travel (national and international), so please do update any information you find in the comments on this page. If you would like to leave messages of support for Paul here you are also welcome. I'll make sure that they reach him.

You can find some of my other posts about Paul Verryn here.

God's patience with my 'becoming'

2010-01-19T21:37:00.001+02:00

I found the following quote inspiring. God is indeed patient and gracious in allowing us to become what we think we ought to, while God knows full well what would best suit our gifts, abilities and temperament.

The God who made us what we are knows what we desire to be and waits with infinite patience while we become what we can. We, on the other hand, know that whatever we need to become all that we can be, this same great and loving God will supply. For all of that, we are thankful. From that gratitude grow love and commitment, faith and trust, wonder and worship. - Joan Chittister, from her book The Liturgical Year.

How do you cope with stress and pressure? (and remain productive)

2010-01-19T09:34:00.003+02:00

Like many others I returned to work early in January after a break over Christmas and the new year. It was great to get back into the swing of things. I love what I do, and I like being engaged in multiple tasks; I even enjoy working with a bit of pressure!

However, 2010 is a massive year for me! First, we have a large stadium prayer gathering in Cape Town (in the new Cape Town stadium on the 22nd of March 2010 - see http://www.gdop-sa.com for more details).

Next, we have an international conference for the Global Day of Prayer from the 17th - 23rd of May at the Cape Town international Convention Centre. I am responsible for handling the programme at this conference, but I also play a central role in most of the other committees for the events. You can see more about this conference at http://www.gdop2010.com - it is actually two events, a conference from the 18th to the 20th and then a stadium event at the Newlands Rugby stadium with a global television broadcast on the 23rd of May). There is more work to be done for this conference than I have hours in my day!

Next, there is the Lausanne Congress on World evangelization which is taking place here in Cape Town in October this year. I am a member of the arrangements team, as well as serving on the Theological working group, heading up the social media strategy, and I am also one of the officially invited delegates to participate in the congress (there are 50 persons from South Africa who were invited to participate in the congress, so it is a great honour to be among that number. I am fairly certain that I must be among the most junior of the group, and that my practical involvement in the congress is what got me the spot! There are certainly far more gifted theologians and leaders in our context! However, I shall do my best). You can read more about the Lausanne Congress at http://www.capetown2010.com and follow Lausanne on Facebook and on Twitter.

Together with these big responsibilities I also have two new books coming out in 2010. I had a very tight deadline to write a book on workplace spirituality and faith at work for Struik publishers (this book will be launched at our Global Day of Prayer conference in May - so, the content must be finished in the next week in order for it to be edited, proofed and sent to India or China for printing (I'm not sure where it is printed, but it is in the East, and then it is shipped back to South African in bulk). Please do pray for me! I have been waking VERY early and going to bed VERY late to try and finish the 12 chapters for the book! I need both strength and inspiration to meet the deadline (I have done 7 chapters and have 5 more to go).

The other book that I am working on is a reworking of my doctoral research which Cambridge Scholars Press is publishing entitled 'Why you may not be who you think you are! Adventures in neuroscience, artificial intelligence and theology'. I'm afraid that is on the back, back burner for a little while (until May at least).

Apart from these big projects I have my regular work to contend with. I am a chaplain in a company that has 2000 employees, I am a chaplain to the Global Day of Prayer, serving on the regular working team of various ministries and boards, and then also still doing a bit of teaching and some post-graduate supervision at the University of Pretoria and the University of Stellenbosch where I hold academic posts.

Most importantly I have to take time for my family and my faith, and of course there is my health....

When I consider all of this I do get a little stressed at times!!!

SO, here's the question... What do you do to remain productive and cope with stress? Please not that emphasis on remaining productive while coping with stress. I love my work, and I like to be busy, but I want to find some tools to keep a 'handle' on it.

Here's a little video that explains what I am currently doing.

However, I'd love to hear your wisdom please!

It is HOT in Cape Town!! 42 degrees C! Yikes!

2010-01-13T12:45:00.000+02:00

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Here's what I've been reading (and writing)...

2010-01-10T22:58:00.001+02:00

In 2009 I read a few interesting (and some not so interesting books... I enjoy reading - sometimes it is because the book is worth reading, at other times I simply enjoy reading a particular book to understand what makes the author 'tick', or to better understand the perspective of the person who has recommended it to me).

So, here are a few of the books that I read in 2009.

Fun

These are the books I read when I want to 'get my mind off work' - you can see that there are quite a lot of them! For years, when I was busy with my doctoral research, I was forced to read with a narrow field (neuroscience, consciousness studies and theology). Now that I no longer have to read to complete a research project, I turn to whatever takes my fancy. Most of these books are read while I'm traveling, or when I can't sleep.

'Ringworld' by Larry Niven - this is a classic sci-fi book. I enjoyed it a great deal. It is getting a little dated, but it was wonderfully entertaining and a great distraction from some of the other serious books I was reading.
'Made in America: An informal history of the English language in the United States' by Bill Bryson. I love Bryson's books! He writes with intelligence and humour, and this book was no exception. It was filled with incredible facts and gave me a real insight into the formation of American English (yes, by this I mean the dialect of English that is spoken by North Americans). But it also offered some wonderful insight into the history and cultural development of the most powerful nation on earth (with all of the quirks, struggles, and abuses that come from holding that responsibility on the globe). I would highly recommend this book.
'The lost symbol' by Dan Brown. I love reading Dan Brown's books. I like the pace with which he writes, and his style appeals to the conspiracy theorist inside of me! Some folks didn't enjoy this book. I thought it was great.
'Confessions of an economic hitman' by John Perkins. This was another interesting book. I'm not sure how true it is. It was interesting, and I can certainly see how greed would drive persons (and nations) to enslave others for their own interests. I have certainly seen how African nations have been enslaved by foreign debt and how much of our natural and human resources get channeled out of Africa to repay foreign nations for so called 'development'.
'The year of living biblically' by AJ Jacobs. This was one of the funniest and most entertaining books I read last year! It was wonderful to see how a secular person (who does not have an anti-theist agenda) views the faith! AJ Jacobs was so sincere in his desire to try and live by the 'rules' of the Bible, and the consequences were hilarious. This is a must read! It deepened my faith and helped me to reflect a great deal on my own religious convictions and spirituality.
'London: The biography, street life and the people' by Peter Ackroyd. This was another very interesting historical book! I so enjoyed learning about London. It is one of my favourite cities, it is so cosmopolitan and has such a rich history! I would encourage any person who is heading to London to read this book before leaving.
'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell - this must be one of the best books I've ever read! I love Gladwell's style and his approach! This book is filled with obscure facts and interesting data. I found his conclusions somewhat selective and at times quite speculative. However, they were always entertaining. I bought all of Gladwell's books (except Tipping Point which is not available in Africa!)
'What the dog saw' by Malcolm Gladwell. This was the least interesting of his books so far. It seems to be a collection of essays from his Newspaper column. I am enjoying it (I have not yet finished reading it), but less than the other Gladwell books.
'Blunder' by Zachary Shore. This books was interesting, although it lacked the pace and finesse of Gladwell's books (it is in the same genre, although from the perspective of a military historian). It traces how and why smart people make bad decisions.
'Blink' by Malcolm Gladwell. I enjoyed this book a lot as well. Again, it has lots of interesting data and obscure facts about how persons make decisions (both good and bad decisions).
'Story by Robert McKee. This is a classic text for any person who writes, does public speaking, or has to share information in a manner that will both entertain and inform an audience. It was filled with practical examples from the world of script writing. I would recommend this work for preachers - it could just help us all to deliver better sermons!

Inspiration and faith

These books are the ones that I read because I feel I need them - they help me to grow spiritually and intellectually. Some of them were read a review books for journals (I am a reviewer for the Church History society's journal Studia historiae ecclesiasticae. I enjoy these reviews since I get a copy of each book that I review to keep. Moreover, I am forced to read wider than my personal interests (which stretches me and creates new interests). Lastly, having reviews published in successive journals is a good way to remain up to date in the academy (and one gets research points for such publications, very few, but still there is some recognition). You'll notice that many of the books are books written by friends (like Wessel and John). Some of the books are not in keeping with my own theological perspective... These are normally books that I am asked to read and review for someone else, or to give an opinion or insight on.

'28 days of prayer during financial crisis' by Wessel Bentley. My friend Wessel wrote this sterling set of reflections - how I wish he had the 'might' of a large publishing house behind this project! It deserves to be read, distributed, and made available across South Africa and the world. It is well written, it is free from trite advice and bad theology. I loved it! I am glad for the support that Africa Upper Room has given him with this project, but as I say, I would love the book to get introduced to a wider audience. Please visit http://www.wesselsplace.blogspot.com to read about Wessel and get a copy of this book.
'The notion of mission in Karl Barth's ecclesiology' by Wessel Bentley (pre publication). I had the joy of reading a pre-publication electronic copy of this book (which was Wessel's PhD, picked up by Cambridge scholars press). As you can expect, it is a superb theological text - it challenged me to think deeply about my own perspectives on mission and ministry. This is a must read for any missiologist or Barthian scholar.
'SHE book reviews (Biko, development, Cornels books)
'You were made for this' by Bruce Wilkinson. I try to read all of Bruce's books as they come out. He is a good writer and his books sell well (which means that many of the people I minister to will buy copies and read them. Best I am prepared before they are!). I enjoyed this book, and in fact it has impacted by approach to ministering to others. There are some areas in which I did not agree entirely with the theology of inspiration and the theology of wealth and money. However, it is worth reading and it inspired me to be much more generous and flexible in my giving.
'Not by might, nor by Power' by Graham Power with Diane Vermooten. This is the story of the Global Day of Prayer - I am constantly amazed when I read about these events all over the world. This is one of the most inspiring and encouraging South African Christian books I've ever read. I first read it in pre publication, and then had to re-read it several times as it went through the editorial process. Most of my family and colleagues have copies of this book since I give it as a gift frequently. It is worth reading! You can get copies from http://www.globaldayofprayer.com
'The legacy of Stephen Biko: Theological challenges' by Cornel du Toit (ed). This book was an inspiring reminder of how far South Africa has come since the dark years of Apartheid. As with all of Cornel's books, this one had some very deep and challenging theological reflection. The chapters for the book came from conference papers - some were more scholarly than others, all were worth reading.
'Imitating Jesus: An inclusive approach to New Testament Ethics' by Richard Burridge. This was an exceptional book! Perhaps one of the best books on ethics in general, and New Testament ethics in particular, that I have ever read! I loved the approach and particularly appreciated Burridge's thorough analysis of New Testament ethics in the South African context.
'Seasons in theology: Inroads of postmodernism, reference and representation' by Cornel du Toit. This was a very dense and complex book. It was a reworked compendium of numerous of Cornel's best academic papers. For the serious theologian this is a must! However, for anyone else it may be heavy going! It is technical, crosses disciplines (particularly, theology, science, and philosophy) and the subject matter is challenging to say the least. It assumes a great deal of theological and philosophical education. It would make a good reader for pre-doctoral research students who want a good overview of varying approaches to theology through the ages.
'Viewed from the shoulders of God: Themes in science and theology' by Cornel du Toit. This is a must have book for any theologian who is interested in natural science. Cornel is arguably one of the most astute and thorough theologians in this area. This book is another compilation of various scholarly articles (among them are some that have won awards for research). This is a good reference work that also has enough depth to keep the advanced researcher interested.
'A twenty yard stroll' by John Baillie. This was a good read. I have enjoyed John's books. This one was no exception.
'What is a good life? An introduction to Christian ethics in 21st century Africa' edited by Wessel Bentley, Andre van Niekerk and Liouse Kretzschmar. This is an absolute MUST have book for ministers and theologians! It covers the basics of ethics, from methodology to specific ethical issues. Among the authors are numerous top notch scholars, and some younger 'emerging' scholars (such as myself). Please see http://www.wesselsplace.blogspot.com to get a copy of this book. If you're an ethics student at UNISA it is the current prescribed text-book.
Lastly, I supervised one Masters student (homeopathy and theology), and examined two Masters students and three PhD's in 2009. Only one of them had to resubmit some revisions. I currently have three PhD's to examine and on Masters student - once again, this is great work since it forces me to read outside of my regular area, plus the research is often quite fresh and novel!

On my 'to read' list

Badass, The happiness project, tipping point...

I own copies of these books and am busy reading them at the moment.

My reading has been curtailed a little in the last while since I am under a heavy deadline for a book that I am writing that will be launched in May 2010 by Struik Publishers! This is my first 'popular' book with a big name publisher! So, please do keep an eye on this space!

What I've been writing

I have been keeping my pen on paper this year as well.

I have two journal articles awaiting publication (one in HTS and another in the UK journal 'Theology'). These are currently under review so I will share details as soon as I'm able to.
I wrote three chapters on HIV/AIDS (one for a Methodist book by Epworth press in the UK, another for a book on mission and social justice in the USA, and a third one for a book by my friend Joerg Rieger in the USA). These will all be published in 2010.
I did three magazine articles (two for 'Today' magazine, and one for 'Joy!'), as well as a few Newspaper inserts for 'New Hart'.
I wrote the chapter on the Bible and same sex relationships for the ethics text-book 'What is a good life' (see above).
I delivered two papers (one on the emerging Church conversation at the Hugh Price Hughes lectures in England in March), and another paper on the environment and African theology at the Theological Society meetings in Stellenbosch in June.
I leave for Beirut in Lebanon (!) in a few weeks time to attend the Lausanne Theological Working Group meetings where I shall deliver a paper on HIV AIDS, suffering, justice and poverty (that paper has already been written and sent).

Let's hope that 2010 is as productive as 2009! I often get asked how I manage to write and read so much... The answer is quite simple, I sleep less than most people! I have a 'day job' that keeps me very busy, plus I am deeply committed to my family, I enjoy cycling, and I belong to my local Church (with a forum group). All of these things bring balance and help me to keep my theology and thoughts grounded.

More than just a bag of neurons, or, are we more than our brains?

2010-01-06T08:23:00.002+02:00

My friend Phil Collier is posting some wonderful content on his Brain Science blog brain sparks.

He posted an interesting question about whether we are merely the 'stuff of our brains' (i.e., if our neurons determine who we are, or if our identity and consciousness is more complex than that).

Here's my response to Phil (please see his post here):

Hi Phil,

As I mentioned in our conversation this morning, I tend towards an inclusive approach that suggests that we are the stuff of our minds (of course 'the brain' extends into the body through the nervous system, and regulates and is informed through the endocrinatic system). As such we would have to say that in part we are our bodies (not just the cells of our brains, although those are important!)

However, I have found Ken Wilber's all quadrant, all level (AQAL) approach to consciousness quite helpful in breaking down the false dualism between consciousness and matter.

Thus, on an individual exterior level (my biology) the individual's brain has a great deal to do with their identity and consciousness. However on a collective exterior level (the human or mammalian brain) there is also an element of additional identity forming activity going on. Then of course you have the individual interior (what I think and believe about myself that forms me) and the collective interior (what 'our' culture, religion, socialization, has contributed towards my understand of myself in relation to others).

You can read more about my understanding of Wilber here, and a few other Wilber posts here.

Then, with regards to the idea of an objective mapping of the functions of the brain (i.e., how the electrical and chemical components function to create outputs of action or thought), you may be interested to read some of Ray Kurzweil's thoughts.

He has done a great deal in trying to map and emulate brain function (his speciality has been speech synthesis and speech recognition), but more recently he has become knowing for his mathematical predictions of the exponential increase in computational capacity in machines.

I discussed this at length (and also discussed Wilber and consciousness at length) in my doctoral thesis. See the following post for links and information about Kurzweil (discussed in chapter 2) and you can read about Wilber in chapter 4.

I am currently under contract with Cambridge scholars press who will be publishing my Ph.D in a more 'popular' form as book in 2010 (the working title is 'Why you may not be who you think you are - adventures in neuroscience, strong artificial intelligence and philosophy'). So keep an eye on this space! I'll post updates on the progress as they come.

The original interview with Ray Kurzweil in h+ can be found here.

Blessings,

Dion

An interview with Ray Kurzweil - Spiritual machines, artificial intelligence, and some interesting banter!

2010-01-05T18:39:00.000+02:00

I was first introduced to the work of the theorist, Ray Kurzweil, some years ago when my initial interests in strong Artificial Intelligence emerged (probably in 2001 or thereabout). I have since read just about everything that he has published (mostly as part of my doctoral research). You can find a number of posts I've made about Ray Kurzweil on this blog here.

If you're interested in reading some of my thoughts on Kurzweil you can download a copy of my Doctoral Thesis here (please see chapter 2). Some other books that are worth reading to understand Kurzweil's relationship between computers, the human mind, and the future of technology are:

The age of spiritual machines, and Are we spiritual machines. By Kurzweil.
Wiredlife - who are we in the digital age? By Jonscher.

What I found most interesting was Kurzweil's 'Law of accelerating returns' (again, see chapter 2 of my thesis above). It is an amendment of Moore's Law - simply stated Kurzweil shows by mathematical proof that if the exponential development of compunational power continues to surpass Moore's law we should soon have sentient machines (his prediction was that this would happen by 2029). At first glance this may seem quite unbelievable, yet consider that we already rely on machines for so many 'higher' functions in our lives. A simple example is memory - I don't know my mother's telephone number! It is saved as a contact on my cellphone. I were to loose my phone I would not be able to phone her. Then there are other examples such as the reliance on machines to complete complex tasks, such as landing in bad weather or poor visibility. In my research I name other examples of our relationship to machines at subtler levels (such as developing attachments to certain technologies such as emotional attachments to 'virtual pets' - like the Farmville craze). There are many examples of how we relate to current relatively 'dumb' and limited technologies in complex and subtle ways.

Can you imagine how much more reliant we shall be on these technologies when they can perform ALL tasks more accurately and with greater speed and ease than humans can?

The one philosophical possibility that exists with Kurzweil is the fact that just because something doesn't currently exist, does not mean that it does not have the potential to exist at some point in the future. So, in my thesis I deal with the counterarguments to strong Artificial Intelligence (i.e., those who say that it is not possible). Have a look at those arguments and counterarguments and let me know what you think!

Kurzweil not only writes about technology and the future, he has also made some significant technological and theoretical contributions towards our understanding of brain modeling (particularly as it relates to consciousness and the move from information to knowledge).

So, if you're still reading after all of the above, you may be interested to follow the links below to an interview with Ray Kurzweil.

Inventor Ray Kurzweil is interviewed by h+ magazine about consciousness, brain modeling, global warming, and the Singularity.

SO: James Lovelock, the ecologist behind the Gaia hypothesis, came out a couple of years ago with a prediction that more than 6 billion people are going to perish by the end of this century, mostly because of climate change. Do you see the GNR technologies coming on line to mitigate that kind of a catastrophe?
RK: Absolutely. Those projections are based on linear thinking, as if nothing's going to happen over the next 50 or 100 years. It's ridiculous. For example, we're applying nanotechnology to solar panels. The cost per watt of solar energy is coming down dramatically. As a result, the amount of solar energy is growing exponentially. It?s doubling every two years, reliably, for the last 20 years. People ask, "Is there really enough solar energy to meet all of our energy needs?" It's actually 10,000 times more than we need. And yes you lose some with cloud cover and so forth, but we only have to capture one part in 10,000. If you put efficient solar collection panels on a small percentage of the deserts in the world, you would meet 100% of our energy needs. And there?s also the same kind of progress being made on energy storage to deal with the intermittency of solar. There are only eight doublings to go before solar meets 100% of our energy needs. We're awash in sunlight and these new technologies will enable us to capture that in a clean and renewable fashion. And then, geothermal -- you have the potential for incredible amounts of energy.

Ray Kurzweil: The h+ Interview

This portion of the post is originally linked from BoingBoing.net.

The belief of science and the science of belief

2010-01-03T22:46:00.000+02:00

This morning as I was sweating my way on a mountainbike ride through Lourensrod I had a very interesting and thought provoking conversation. On today's ride we had a doctor, a theoretical mathematician, an engineer and myself. I know that at least two of us (myself and the doctor) are people of faith - I am not sure about the other two guys.

As we commonly do on such rides we discussed a variety of topics (from the correct rebound on a full suspension bike, to the best cadence for slippery climbs, and of course the more serious stuff like the cricket test!) Among the topics discussed this morning was the relationship between faith and science. One of the guys was talking about a particular granite rock formation that seemed out of place in the middle of a whole host of 'Table Mountain limestone' (most of the mountains in our area are limestone). This huge granite rock outcrop is quite out of place! It is a single massive rock formation with no other evidence of granite in the surrounding area.

As we discussed the various theories of how the rock formation came to be I jokingly said 'I think the farmer had it delivered overnight by helicopter'. There was a bit of laughter, and then one of the guys said something along the lines of 'stranger things have happened! But how would we know if it is true?'

This was where we entered into a long conversation on the nature of belief, and the difference between science as a supposedly epistemological discipline and faith as a phenomenological discipline. I could see that the engineer and mathematician had never considered that science is as dependent on faith as religion is.

Science is based upon assumptions which one then attempts to prove by repeatedly testing the assumptions with which one began. For example, when we say that something weights 1 kilogram the only way that we can prove it is to verify our claim or assumption by repeated proof. So for example you may cut a piece of cheese that you believe weighs 1kg, and then cut a piece that is twice the size, then cut the 2kg piece into two piece and see whether the first piece, and the two new pieces all have the same mass (even if their dimensions differ).

If enough people agree with your verified findings your assumption becomes the accepted starting point for future experiments (at least until someone finds fault with your theory, or improves upon it).

Another example is the measurement of time (as discussed in the previous post on this blog). Time is not an a-priori reality that is part of the ontological fabric of reality. Rather, our measurement of the space between a sequence of events is our conscious attempt to link elements in a manner that is both sensible and measurable. Thus, when enough people agree on the measurement of a particular space of time (i.e., 1 minute = 60 seconds) it is the common agreement that gives the measurement worth. The measurement has no value outside of the agreement (thus the value of the agreement is held by those who 'believe' it to be true or correct).

That kind of sounds like faith to me! Truth is not always true. Scientists (and religious persons) have frequently had to adapt their fundamental theories in the light of scientific, historical, or philosophical discoveries.

So, as we struggled our way up another hill (in absolutely perfect riding weather!) we all agreed that science has an element of belief or faith attached to it. We also agreed that there are certain instances under which the collective belief of a group of persons (based on their repeatable experience) could be grounds for science (as is frequently the case in unexplained physical cures as a result of prayer).

I'd love to hear your thoughts! You don't even have to follow me up the mountain to share them - just type a comment below, or drop me an email.

A new neuroscience blog, and the concept of time (does time exist?)

2010-01-01T23:36:00.001+02:00

A friend of mine, Philip Collier, has just launched a new neuroscience website at http://www.brainsparks.co.za

Phil and I are cycling buddies, but we also share an interest in the brain - Phil graduated with a Masters in research psychology at the University of Port Elizabeth. He and I often spend our rides up the Helderberg mountain talking about how the mind functions!

Please do check out his new website - it looks set for great things!

I read one of his first posts with great interest. I would encourage you to have a look at the post here - where are you now. What struck me as I read it was the question about the nature of time (and how a poor understanding of the nature of time can hamper a person from truly living in the present moment). I once read a wonderful quote that said, 'we crucify ourselves between two thieves, the regret of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow'. I'm not sure who said it, so help me with a reference if you know! However, what I can say is that I have a much more positive view of the concept of the present - 'the now'. I believe that there is great spiritual value in learning to live in the present moment.

Once you've read Phil's post you may like to consider my response to him (I have copied it below). This gives some insight into how I view the concept of time.

All that being said, happy new year! May the next decade be truly blessed for you!

Hi Philip,

Congratulations on the launch of your new site! It looks fantastic. I look forward to great content and many wonderful interactions in the years to come.

The notion of time has been one that has occupied my mind as well - I have read Tolle's 'The Power of Now' (in fact it is one of the books we use in our conscious leadership programme with the senior management of our company). I found it a most stimulating and helpful book. I do think that his intention is much more focussed upon awareness of the moment than on the actual concept of time.

However, your question raises some very interesting thoughts indeed! The ancient Greek philosophers spoke of two kinds of time, chronos (from which we get our English word 'Chronology' - this is a linear, historical, concept of time). Then they spoke of kairos, this is the kind of time that has to do with moments of rightness, instead of marking sequential events. It has often been described as 'pregnant' time: when a child is to be born and gestation is complete, or there is some form of trauma, then kairos comes to the fore, it is the 'right' time, or the 'selected' moment.

The sages of many of the world's mystical religious and spiritual traditions (Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish mystics to name but a few) have long emphasized the incredible value of being 'present to the moment'.

Some years ago when I was doing some research on 'the new science' (particularly the work of David Bohm the quantum physicist) I came to realise just how 'the lived moment' is hardwired into all of the cosmos. The constant implication and explication of matter in and out of the source of reality (what Bohm called 'active mind') is only perceivable in the moment of realisation. Of course this concept was discovered much earlier by Einstein, Rosen and Podoslky (also called the EPR or tunneling effect). You can read about it in one of my books (download a PDF copy here). See pages 38 forward, but particularly from page 40.

One final note about the philosophy of time, as I have come to understand it, is that time is a construct (like mass or speed). Time is not an aspect of the ontological nature of reality - rather, it is something that we have created in order to make sense of the sequence of experience and events that we process in our conscious minds.

Consciousness, however, is an ontological necessity! Becoming conscious of the present moment, and the power of the present moment, is the key to finding blessing and peace in life. However, history is equally important (since our consciousness of our past and the past of others gives us a sense of perspective on the present, and hopefully it makes us wise enough to act with intention and courage). Moreover, a conscious aspiration is also a helpful thing (however, not to the extent that it draws us out of the present moment so that we miss the joy and opportunity of 'the now').

Well, those are a few of my thoughts.

Regards,

Dion

Almost at the top of the Helderberg! The view is the reward for a serious climb!

2009-12-29T08:01:00.001+02:00

This is one of my favorite places - I love getting to this point in the ride (normally at around 12km of solid climbing). The view is spectacular. I often ride with friends on a Tuesday and Thursday morning at 5am (before work). When we get to this point we say a brief prayer over our city, for our families and for one another.

It is a blessing and a joy to have good friends, good views, and good health!

Smoke from Thesen Island, fire at Knysna Lagoon / Brenton (I think)!

2009-12-21T16:04:00.002+02:00

A Christmas reflection - God chooses unlikely persons and unexpected places...

2009-12-21T14:23:00.003+02:00

That God should choose to live among humans is a remarkable thing! However, that God should choose to come into the world through a young, unmarried, pregnant girl, and to be announced to poor shepherds in a minor town in Judea is a reminder that God wants to do remarkable things in ordinary persons, and in unexpected places!

If you're interested in a longer Audio reflection of the ideas in this video you can listen to the following recording of my next Radio Pulpit broadcast (download the 6MB MP3 file here). If you enjoy the program please do visit the Radio Pulpit website and vote for the show. I'd appreciate it!

The original posting from which this comes is here:

Our God is intentional - there is not a single detail in all of creation that is not filled with purpose, meaning, and God's loving intention.

I must admit that I have become so accustomed to the Christmas story, and to the characters of this narrative, that I no longer notice the subtler details. When I think of the characters of Christmas I often tend to wander towards what they have become, rather than the truth of who they were. What they have become for me are those cute kids who play Mary, Joseph, the Angels, the Shepherds, the wise men, and of course the 'Baby born' doll (or light bulb) that plays Baby Jesus in the school nativity play!

Yet, I think that sometimes we forget that the very reason why there is a record of the lives of particular people is because God desires to communicate something particular and important to us. God encounters people with a purpose. These characters are no different. Today we shall encounter some very interesting characters - the shepherds that we read about Luke 2:8-20, and we shall see what lessons we can learn about them, about ourselves, and about the God who deliberately wishes to encounter us this Christmas.

I want to encourage you to put the 'school play nativity' scenes out of your mind for the next few minutes. I want to encourage you to ask God to speak to you about the REAL shepherds that were encountered in that field outside of Bethlehem that night. Ask God to speak to you about your REAL life as God speaks to you about their real lives!

I am weary of all the cliched messages in Advent that try to get people to stop shopping and get them out of the malls and into Church... I have wasted many hours preaching sermons like those... We cannot stop people from doing these things with a 30 minute sermon on a Sunday. Rather, we should be encouraging people to find Christ, and the miracle of the Christ of Christmas, in their everyday lives. The Lord has really been telling me that we need something more substantial than the conflict between the economy of Christmas and the Gospel. Thankfully this week's scripture reading has a wealth of meaty stuff to consider!

This message will look at the principles of God's Kingdom that come to the fore in the encounter with the shepherds at Bethlehem. Some social history of the time tells us that these shepherds would have been poor, possibly among the poorest in their community. They were certainly unskilled, and were often people who had a criminal record or were outcasts in society (hence the choice to work at night). Bethlehem, as we know, was not the centre of the Universe! In fact it was a bit like the 'Piet Retief' of it's day... far from everywhere, no great political, economic and social prestige.... Yet, the Christ goes there to be born, and God sends angels to a field outside of this little town to announce the miracle of his birth! So this encounter is about people who don't really matter, from a place that doesn't truly count. Yet somehow they make it into the most popular book in history, and they get a focus one Sunday a year for the past thousand and some years! There must be something significant here.

In this message we shall see what lessons we can learn from these people and their role in the Christmas narrative.

Then for those who would like a text version of the thoughts please download this MS Word file (prepared in 2007)

May you and yours be blessed this Christmas by God unexpected, and inexplicable, presence! Dion, Megan, Courtney and Liam

The absurdity of hypothetical geometry and Alice in Wonderland

2009-12-17T11:29:00.000+02:00

Some of the most creative works of fiction come from some of the most analytical minds! I guess that in some sense we all need something that is the antithesis of our regular lives to help us find some measure of balance (or equilibrium at least). See 'Flatland - a romance of many dimensions' by Edwin Abbott Abbott as one of the most engrossing and creative examples of the translation of an epistemic discipline to a phenomenological one.

Another classic example is 'Alice in wonderland' (originally titled 'Alice's adventures in wonderland' by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carol). It is a fascinating tale of the multiverse, calling into question the laws of physics and the principles of metaphysics. Of course the Matrix trilogy of films were strongly influenced by Dodgson's masterful tale of wonder!

I suppose the Hegelian synthesis is one of the best explanations for this kind of dynamic tension - we all have a thesis, we reach for an antithesis and find harmony in a synthesis of the two. Dodgson was a mathematician in his 'ordinary' life, and then in his other life (as Lewis Carol) he told fairytales! Alice in wonderland is a synthesis of these two interests.

I came across the following very interesting insight into 'Alice in wonderland' on boing boing. I was not aware that some of the best known characters in the story were added in later redactions. It is quite fascinating!

What is your antithesis? What is there that you do in order to bring balance (or equilibrium) to your life? I find the balance between science and theology to be quite a healthy one in my life!

The original story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is missing what have become some of the book's most iconic characters and scenes: the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter's tea party, the Knave of Hearts' trial, and several other great moments. Why did Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) add them later? According to Alice scholar Melanie Bayley, Dodgson, a mathematician by day, created the scenes to make fun of edgy math ideas floating around at the time. From New Scientist:

Outgunned in the specialist press, Dodgson took his mathematics to his fiction. Using a technique familiar from Euclid's proofs, reductio ad absurdum, he picked apart the "semi-logic" of the new abstract mathematics, mocking its weakness by taking these premises to their logical conclusions, with mad results. The outcome is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Take the chapter "Advice from a caterpillar", for example. By this point, Alice has fallen down a rabbit hole and eaten a cake that has shrunk her to a height of just 3 inches. Enter the Caterpillar, smoking a hookah pipe, who shows Alice a mushroom that can restore her to her proper size. The snag, of course, is that one side of the mushroom stretches her neck, while another shrinks her torso. She must eat exactly the right balance to regain her proper size and proportions.
While some have argued that this scene, with its hookah and "magic mushroom", is about drugs, I believe it's actually about what Dodgson saw as the absurdity of symbolic algebra, which severed the link between algebra, arithmetic and his beloved geometry...
The madness of Wonderland, I believe, reflects Dodgson's views on the dangers of this new symbolic algebra. Alice has moved from a rational world to a land where even numbers behave erratically.

"Alice's adventures in algebra: Wonderland solved"

MIT to revisit Artificial Intelligence research

2009-12-16T12:01:00.000+02:00

This story from boingboing.

MIT has launched a new $5 million, 5-year project to build intelligent machines. To do it, the scientists are revisiting the fifty year history of the Artificial Intelligence field, including the shortfalls that led to the stigmas surrounding it, to find the threads that are still worth exploring. The star-studded roster of researchers includes AI pioneer Marvin Minsky, synthetic neurobiologist Ed Boyden, Neil "Things That Think" Gershenfeld, and David Dalrymple, who started grad school at MIT when he was just 14-years-old. Minsky is even proposing a new Turing test for machine intelligence: can the computer read, understand, and explain a children's book.

Fore more details please follow this link. And, for some posts that I've written about Artificial Intelligence, neuroscience, and consciousness please follow the links listed on the next page.

Ordained deacons and the sacraments of Baptism and Communion in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa

2009-12-14T21:12:00.000+02:00

For those who do not follow my blog regularly, I am an ordained Presbyter (in the USA, an ordained Elder) in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Simply, it means that I was trained and then ordained for the ministry of word and sacrament in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. For some years I have served as a member of the Methodist Church's Doctrine, Ethics and Worship Commission (DEWCOM) - this is the committee of the Methodist Church that seeks to offer theological perspectives (and sometimes even position papers) on pertinent issues related to our faith. Sometimes they are issues of an ethical nature (like whether the Church should ordain persons of a same sex orientation). At other times they are issues related to the worship and polity of the Church, such liturgies and orders of ministry.

When I was still the Dean of the Methodist seminary in Pretoria I had a strong connection with the Methodist Order of Deacons - I still have a particular affinity to this order (and sometimes think that I would have been far better suited for this order than the one in which I am ordained). In short, Deacons are persons who are ordained to the ministry of word and service. Their ordination is non-sequential (in other words, unlike the Anglican Church that first ordains a person as a Deacon, and then after further training and spiritual formation ordains them as a Presbyter, our denomination sees the ministry of a Deacon as equal to that of a Presbyter. It simply has a different focus within the body of Christ). All persons are called to ministry, as Luther rightly suggested we are all 'ordained' to a common ministry in our Baptism into the Priesthood of all believers. It is worth noting that the Bible speaks of the priesthood of ALL believers (thus the priestly function of the body is fulfilled when all of the members respond to their call and perform their function within the body). This is different from the common misconception which I call the priesthood of EVERY believer (which considers each members an individual priest, having the ministry responsibility of the entire body of Christ expressed in EACH person). I don't think the second model is either realistic or Biblical.

Some years ago while serving the DEWCOM the Methodist Order of Deacons requested dispensation to administer the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion (specifically the sacrament of Holy Communion), since many Deacons found themselves stationed by the Church to Pastoral oversight congregations. As part of the life of the congregation they would be expected to administer communion as a regular part of the Methodist sacramental discipline (at least once a quarter).

Presbyters as agency and extreme unction.

In the regular order the Deacon would have to ask a Presbyter to A) preside over the sacrament in the presence of the gathered congregation, or B) ask the Presbyter to set aside the elements of bread and wine in another service of worship and then allow the Deacon to administer these elements in their congregation [just as an aside, Methodists don't consecrate the elements since we don't believe in the doctrines of consubstantiation or transubstantiation but rather we believe that Holy Communion and Baptism are 'real instruments', and 'means of grace' through which we experience in concrete terms the unseen Grace of God in community].

The Deacon's request was a pragmatic one - there are not enough Presbyters (or more accurately not enough willing Presbyters) to preside over the sacrament. Moreover, their initial request stated the common pastoral concern that they are often called to the deathbed of congregants and in times of crisis such as this they can seldom get a Presbyter to serve communion (either because of distance or compliance). The net result is sacramental starvation.

Of course this second issue is not truly an issue for two reasons:

1. Traditionally the Church has made an allowance for any believer to preside over the sacrament of Baptism (and so I guess by extension also the sacrament of Holy Communion (as a means of grace)) in emergencies. For example a lay doctor could baptise a dying infant. In this sense any person (including a Deacon) should be allowed to preside over the sacraments in an emergency.
2. The second reason is also a theological exclusion; quite simply, Methodists do not practice extreme unction (what the sacramental traditions of the Anglican and Catholic Church popularly refer to as 'the last writes'). For Catholics the Eucharist is not just a means of grace (i.e, a visible expression of God's forgiving and reconciling grace), it is an actual moment of grace (since in transubstantiation the recipient receives the actual body and blood of Christ that cleanses sin and brings forgiveness). Thus, a person would wish to receive communion, or at least extreme unction as close to their death as possible in order to die without sin. We simply don't believe that Holy Communion forgives sin or has that function. You can read my paper for a clearer understanding of the intention of the sacrament of Holy Communion for Methodist Christians.

Lay agents administering Holy Communion (as a precedence)

The Deacons provided another very good pragmatic reason for wanting to be allowed to administer Holy Communion. The Methodist Church of Southern Africa has the very strange practise of allowing Lay Persons to administer the sacrament under license and discipline of their District Bishop (the discipline is confined to a circuit and the Circuit Superintendent Minister has disciplinary oversight). Methodists may be suprised to hear me saying that Lay Persons have a license to administer the sacraments! Most would probably say that only ministers are allowed to administer the sacraments in their context - well, if you have a students ministers (also called a probationer minister) labouring in your circuit and she / he administers the sacrament then you have a Lay Person presiding over the sacraments!

Simply stated, a person remains a lay person until she or he is ordained! That is just the way it is! You only cease being a member of ho layos when you are ordained either as a Presbyter or Deacon (you can see my book 'Methodism in Southern Africa: A Celebration of Wesleyan Mission' for a detailed discussion of the three orders of ministry and the role of the Lay Christian / Lay minister in that order). Probationer / student ministers receive a license from their Bishop to administer the sacraments within their circuit (they can be charged if they administer Baptism or Holy Communion outside of their circuit!)

This arrangement has been a source of great debate and even embarrassment in ecumenical circles. Our Anglican sisters and brothers struggle to understand how we can allow lay persons to administer the sacraments. However, I am led to believe that this pragmatic concession was made by our Church leaders some years ago (before we had an order of Deacons) in order to allow student ministers in very remote locations to meet the sacramental needs of their congregations.

On these grounds the Order of Deacons are absolutely within their rights to say that they, as Ordained persons, should be allowed to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion in areas where there is inadequate agency (whether through geography or apathy).

However, theologically it would not be permissible! Simply because the Church has made a pragmatic consession in one instance (that is not theologically justifiable) it cannot make ANOTHER such concession (two wrongs do not make a right). What the Church should do is:

1. Not license Probationers to administer the sacraments.
2. Train more persons and ordain them as Presbyters (if one is called to the ministry of word and sacrament that is the area within which one should labour).

Two positions on Deacons and Sacraments in the MCSA.

My friend, Dr Vernon van Wyk, who is an ordained Deacon raised a question on facebook about two perspective on Deacons and the sacrament of Holy Communion. The two perspectives are presented in two position papers which I would encourage you to read.

Position 1: Dion Forster
Position 2: Diane Sundberg

In summary, my position is a straightforward theological position. In terms of historical and Biblical theology one is ordained EITHER to word and sacrament OR word and service. If one feels called to administer the sacraments one should train as a Presbyter. The pragmatic concerns of agency and precedence (mentioned above) should be solved by means other than theological expediency.

If I read Diane's paper correctly she relies on two points to suggest that we reconsider allowing Deacons to administer the sacraments. First, that Wesley's theology is pragmatic in nature and so the founder of Methodism would have made a pragmatic allowance for persons such as Deacons to administer the sacraments. I say persons such as Deacons since the Methodist movement of Wesley's day only had Priests and Lay Preachers and only ordained Priests (even those ordained by Wesley himself) were allowed to preside over the sacrament. The second argument is that of theological precedence (i.e., the Church already allows laity to administer the sacrament, why not ordained Deacons)?

My thoughts:

1. I am still of the view that the theology of the Church, from Scripture and history is quite clear. We should respond to the call to ministry in keeping with the one who calls. The Church has a responsibility to discern the call and ordain persons to their respective ministries (word and sacrament or word and service). This is the only theologically sensible thing to do!

2. I still believe that the pragmatic concerns are real concerns and that the Church will need to find some real solutions to them. First among them is to ensure that there are enough ordained Presbyters to administers the sacraments. Second, to no longer license lay persons to administer the sacraments as a general expectation during training for ministry. Third, to formally acknowledge that there will be some instances in which the ordained Deacon should be allowed to administer both Baptism and Holy Communion. Fourth, to educate both our ministers and members to understand the purposes of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion as means of grace within the Church (so as to avoid using Holy Communion as a sacrament of 'extreme unction').

3. I am still firmly of the belief that Deacons perform a distinct, valuable and necessary ministry within the Church. I further believe that the value of this ministry is eroded if we turn Deacons into Presbyters! In my paper I discuss the theology of a servant who is sent into the world as a high calling, not only equal to that of a Presbyter, but in some instance even higher than that of the celebrant.

So, I cannot agree with Diane's position (if I have understood it correctly).

Whilst Mr Wesley was a pragmatist he was not a Methodist, certainly not in the way we are Methodists (he was an Anglican Priest who never considered or hoped that we would become a denomination free from the Anglican discipline. Moreover he did not have any concept of the Order of Deacons as we have it in contemporary Southern African Methodism). Moreover, while scripture does not forbid it, it certain does offer clearer examples of the order of ministry in the developing New Testament Church. Applying the line of argument that scripture does not expressly forbid something is quite dangerous! Scripture does not expressly forbid the use of atomic bombs in war, but it DOES give some clear guidelines about the sanctity of life.

Where we can sensibly see, in Church tradition and Scripture, which direction we should follow, we need to exercise extreme caution in going against such clear direction and guidance.
In conclusion I am not against Deacons administering the sacraments, I am however against Deacons eroding the unique character and gifting of their ministry for the sake of pragmatic expediency.

We should take great care that we don't sell the high calling of servanthood at the price of a quick fix for accessible sacramental agency! So, I would encourage the Order of Deacons to so transform the Church through facilitating the true meaning of Holy Communion (as a sacrament of true reconcilliation NOT only in the Church but more specifically in the world) and Baptism as a sign of evangelism (bringing persons from the world into the Church, the body of Christ), and where necessary not to settle for poor planning and stationing by the Church's committees, or non-compliance and cooperation by ordained Presbyters. If a Presbyter will not avail him or her self to serve (serve!) the sacraments when called upon, his or her ministry as an ordained person should be called into question.

What our Church needs is many more servants, persons truly called to exemplify the nature and mind of Christ (in accordance with Philippians 2). This ministry is necessary for the Priesthood of ALL believers to allow Christ's body to fulfill its priestly functions in unity.

I would love to hear your perspective on this matter! Please do drop me a comment here, or on facebook!

Together with you in Christ,

Dion

Just beyond my limits...

2009-12-14T17:10:00.000+02:00

By now the regular readers of my blog would know that I am somewhat committed to cycling! Yes, yes, I know that is an understatement!

It is a passion that brings me great joy and blessing!

I enjoy riding on the road - particularly when I can do a nice long, quiet, ride. I find it therapeutic.

However, what I really love is getting onto 'the beast' (my Mongoose mountainbike) and heading up into the mountains - we have more than a few of those in Somerset West!

Offroad riding takes a lot more energy and skill to safely make your way up the hills. Sometimes there are wide dirt tracks where you can spin large circles with your feet, feeling the soil passing under your wheels at a smooth and rapid rate. I love the climbs since I find that I have more strength than courage! So, I tend to pass my cycling friends on the way up the hills, whereas they pass me on the way down.

Since my motorcycle accident I have worked hard to build strength in my legs, and it has paid off to a great measure. In fact, I would venture that I ride a lot better than I walk!

When the wide trails end and the single track starts it is even more fun! It is exhilarating to navigate the narrow ruts between the trees and rocks, your legs are burning, your lungs feel like they're going to explode, but you can't stop pedaling, because if you do, you'll slow down and fall over...

It is even more challenging when you're riding on the side of a fairly steep drop-off. If your wheel slips you could tumble down the side of the hill (I've done this once with fairly disastrous results! I ended up in the emergency room with cracked ribs and a few nasty scrapes and bumps!) But, the risk is part of the fun! So, I have learned how to keep control of my bike in order to get to the top of the hill safely and fairly quickly. The basic principles I've learned are:

Choose your line in advance, it is easy to get stuck in the wrong rut and find that you cannot get out of it, or that you ride along a path that takes you straight into an obstacle that you can't get over or around. My friend Phil ended up careering straight into a 'river bed' with large round stones on the one side and trees on the other. He and his bike took a serious pounding when he hit the dirt! When I came around the corner his bike was in a tree and he was lying flat on his back about 30 meters further down the track. Choosing your line is crucial!
You'll go over whatever your attention is focused on! I learned this the hard way when I first started mountain-biking! If there is a large loose rock in the path and you focus on it you will ride straight for it! Tried as I may, I realised that I would always navigate for the obstacle that my attention was focused on. So, the lesson I have learned is that I need to be aware of obstacles, but I should always look beyond them (so don't be dumb and not look at the tree you're riding towards! Ha ha! No rather find the line around, or beyond, your obstacle and focus your attention on that. Amazingly, it works!)
Attack obstacles; hesitation most often has disastrous consequences. One Saturday morning while riding at Oak Valley in Grabouw a friend, who is a much better cyclist than I am, had quite a serious fall while riding over a log bridge (it was extremely steep on the back end, and a large rut had been washed out below the end of the bridge. When he was riding over the bridge he saw the ditch and hesitated, touching his front brakes for just a split second, and with that his front wheel dug in and he went over the handlebars spraining his thumb and injuring his arm, shoulder and leg). I watched others ride the bridge, attacking the obstacle at speed and incredibly riders with much less skill made it across the bridge without a single incident! It seemed that the courage to go off the end of the bridge with a little bit of speed gave them enough inertia to push their back wheel down the bridge and through the ditch. Courage does help with most things in life! The converse is also true though, stupidity is not all that helpful! But, I'll say more about that below.
Learn from your mistakes and know your real limits. I have come to understand that there are certain things that I cannot do as well as some of my riding companions. I am not all that good at jumping large obstacles, so I choose to ride around them when I have a choice. I'm not that good at directions (as many a lost friend will tell you!) so I am willing to ask others to point out the correct route. At the end of the day I have had to learn from my mistakes so that I can make the most of the few precious hours I can find between 4.30 and 8.00 when I cycle! Now, you'll notice that I put the word real in italics... That is because I have also come to realise that I need to push myself a little beyond my perceived limits most often in order to discover my real limits. I tend toward safety and comfort, but I find it so much more rewarding when I have acquired a new skill, overcome a fear, or conquered a new obstacle.
Have fun! Life's too short not to enjoy it! This final one is common sense! Some people think that I am eccentric and strange because of my penchant for fun. Sure, we're all 'wired' differently, but the truth is that life is just too short to spend it doing things that you don't enjoy or want to do. So, I do my best to enjoy the people, the places and the opportunities I have within my reach, and I try not to get too hung up on the places I'll never go or the opportunities I'll never have. Make the most of what you do have! It makes a difference.

This year has been a lot like my riding - I have constantly found myself stretched beyond my limits (what Paul calls epekteinomai in Phil 3:12-14 - to strain). It is for a clear goal and purpose, yet it requires some measure of courage and discomfort to achieve it.

I do my best to choose my line in advance (I do this on a macro scale, working for what I believe I am called to do, but also on a micro scale, by praying through my appointments, meetings and tasks for each week on a Sunday evening).
I do my best to keep my focus on the correct things (my family, my faith relationship, and within my faith relationship on issues of grace, justice, mercy, loving inclusivity and the hospitality of Christ. It is easy to become disheartened, down and bitter when I look at the many things that are wrong with the world. I do my best to try and find opportunities for God's grace to operate through me (and in spite of me) in every situation!)
Then, my friends will know that I have always attacked the obstacles! Where I currently serve there are a lot theological and spiritual issues that I have to deal with, and sometimes with very powerful and influential people. I have found that a firm and clear engagement is most often the best remedy for challenge and conflict. Of course I ask God for wisdom, courage (and necessary restraint), but I have found that I can engage most people and tasks well enough to edge them forward (even if just by a millimeter each time!) I have particularly found this approach helpful when facing daunting challenges (I am currently working on a new book with a prestigious South African Christian publisher - it is the first time that I am attempting to write something 'popular', it is a challenge, but I am enjoying it and tackling the task head-on!)
Well, learning from my mistakes and knowing my real limits are both areas in which I still have some growing to do. I do tend to be somewhat head-strong - but the knowledge of this character trait has at least helped me to understand some of my disappointments and struggles!
Finally, I am learning to find opportunities to fall in love with life in every situation! How can I not love life? I am blessed with a wonderful family, I get to serve God (and survive with my financial and practical needs met), I live in a beautiful place and meet incredible people... Plus there is still so much that needs to be done in the world, and God trusts me enough to tackle of few of those tasks... I have much to give thanks for!

So, tomorrow morning I'll rise at 4.30 am again and enjoy my bike. I am thankful to be just beyond my limits of comfort!

Just met @USB_ED ! Here we are @EtiennePiek and I.

2009-12-11T10:34:00.002+02:00

It was such a blessing to attend the senior management development course (SMDP) - I learned such a great deal! I loved being a student again, and it was fantastic to connect with new friends! Etienne and I serve together in the Global Day of Prayer - Etienne heads up GDOP we were the only two 'dominees' (priests for those who don't speak Afrikaans) on the course!

You can see more photos from the graduation here.

Dr Liam Forster, wearing my doctoral gown - he thinks he's superman! Ha ha! Too cute!

2009-12-10T20:55:00.002+02:00

Isn't he cute! Courtney and Liam love wearing my doctoral gown. When I took it out the cupboard Liam's face lit up (it is the first time he has noticed it!) He shouted 'SUPERMAN!' Ha ha! So, I draped the gown and 4 hoods on him for fun - he loves the hat.

Fun times! They grow up way too quickly!!!